Improvement in making zinc-white



S. T. JONES.

Making White Zinc.

Patented Aug. 14, 18.55.

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SAMUEL T. JONES, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAKING ZINC-WHITE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 11 3,4313, dated August14, 1855.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL T. JONES, of thecity and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulimprovements in furnaces for the manufacture of zinc-white or oxide ofzinc from the ores of zinc; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full and exact description thereof.

Before proceeding to describe my invention I will refer to certainobjects to be accomplished and difficulties to be overcome in themanufacture of white oxide of zinc.

It has been ascertained that zinc-white or oxide of zinc may beprofitably manufactured from the ores of zinc by first pulverizing andadmixing them with coal or other fuel, and that by the application ofheat, together with a diffused and graduated blast or draft of aireffecting ignition and a moderate combustion of the fuel, a reduction ofthe ore will take place, the zinc will be liberated, and the oxide willbe produced in the desired form. It has been ascertained that it is ofgreat consequence to apply the blast or draft in such-an equable anddiffused state as to prevent an undue degree of heat, which wouldinevitably occasion slagging in some parts of the. mass of ore and fuel,so as materially to interfere with the operation. It is also necessaryto provide against the sifting of the finely-pulverized ore through thebottom of grate. The main ob ject to be accomplished is to effect thereduc tion of the entire mass of ore by a gentle and roasting processrather than by a high meltingheat. If the blast were applied to a highpile of ore and fuel, such as is used in the pro cess of roasting oresof iron preparatory to their reduction in an iron blast-furnace, such anunequal distribution of heat would occur as to occasion the difficultyof slagging before referred to, whereby the operation would be impededif not entirely interrupted.

To avoid such difficulties, and also to effect an equable and diffusedapplication of thedraft or blast, is the object of my improvements,which I now proceed to describe.

They consist of four different arrangements or modes of construction ofgrate-bottoms,

beds, or hearths, each one producing similar effect.

First. I construct a grate-bottom of ample size to admit the ore orother substance containing zinc in an even layer or layers of a fewinches in depth, together with the fuel, either in admixture or inseparate layers of straight bars of narrow width, but increasedproportionably in depth,in order to secure the desired strength, andarranged at such narrow or blast of air may be passed upward to the oreand fuel above, or other substance containing zinc, the tendency of thesame to fall through when in a finely-divided state may be greatlydiminished. \Vhen they are in a very finely-divided state, I furtherproceed, first, to lay immediately upon the bars a separate layer ofcoal of such size as will not pass through, which forms a suitable bedor bottom to receive the finer portions of ore and fuel in admixturethereupon, and sometimes I find it advantageous to apply the fine coalusually admixed with the ore in a separate layer upon the coarser coalimmediately resting upon the grate-bars, and then the ore or otheradmixture of zinc in a layer thereupon, when this bed for the ore, &c.,more effectually prevents their sifting through, and the lat ter are atthe same time reduced by the flame carried upward through it.

Second. In lieu of the grate-bottom and be formed as above described, Isometimes prefer to construct one of flat bars or slabs of iron or othermaterial capable of withstanding heat, fitting the same side by sideclosely to each other, but filled with small holes or perforations offrom about one-eighth to threefourths of an inch in size, and atdistances of from about one-fourth to about one inch from the center ofone to that of another. The fuel and ore or other substance may then beplaced upon such bottom either in separate layers or in admixture, asbefore described, 'as may be found most advantageous to secure the endsproposed.

Third. My invention relates, furthermore, to the construction of thegrate-bottom or hearth to be used for such or other similar purpose, byplacing one or more layers or series of bars or slabs of iron or otherrefractory material capable of withstanding heat, so that one side ofeach bar or slab shall underlap the side of the bar or slab next aboveit, leaving a space for the lateral passage of the air to the ore andfuel above between them, in which case the grate or bottom will have andistances apart that while the requisite draft inclination toward oneside or to or from the middle toward the sides, the extent of which willdepend upon the degree of underlapping or upon the thickness of theslabs. In this arrangement embracing inclinations of the hearth simplesquare bars or bars of other shapes may also be used to advantage,instead of the underlapping edge above described, by beddingthe surfaceof the grate with a layer of coarse coal and placing the layers of finecoal and ore upon its top, whereby the sifting through into the ashesbelow of the finer particles will be obviated.

Fourth. In lieu of the above, I also sometimes construct abed with twoseparate series or layers of slabs or bars, leaving a space betweenthose of the upper and lower layers, so that any ore, fuel, 860., whichmay fall through will be caught upon the bars or slabs of the lowerseries, the openings or interstices between the bars or slabs of therespective series being such as to allow of an adequate supply of airbeing passed upward in a lateral direction between them.

Having now described the natur and objeots of my improvements, I willfurther 'remark that the several grates, beds, or bottoms, as described,should of course be surrounded or connected with suitable walls, formingan ash-pit beneath and ore-chamber above, with suitable doorways,blast-pipes, or air-passages, as may be required. The ore-chamber abovemay also be provided with an arch dome or cover, and with suitableopenings and flues and pipes for the escape or conducting of the zincvapors and products of combustion, as may be required.

I refer to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, in which theimprovements above described are represented.

No. 1 represents asection of a grate-bottom formed of bars of narrowwidth but proportionately increased depth, with narrow spaces between,and surmounted with coarser coal, forming a bed upon which the finercoal and ore may rest above without the danger of sifting through intothe ash-pit below, the same being a representation of the firstgrate-bottom by me before described.

No.2 represents a plan of a bottom com posed of several fiat slabsplaced side by side, each slab being pierced by numerous small holes forthe passage of the air from beneath to the fine coal and ore placed onthe top, the same being a representation of the second grate-bottom byme before described.

No. 3 represents a section of a hearth or bottom composed of bars orslabs underlapping each other at one side and rising with an inclinationfrom the middle toward the sides, the same admitting of being reversed,so as to render the highest part in the center.

No. 8" represents a section of an inclined hearth or grate composed ofsquare bars, surmounted with a bed of larger sized coal to support thesmaller coal and ore on the top of such bed, the same being arepresentation of the third grate-bottom by me before described.

No. 4 represents a section of two layers or series of bars or slabs withan interval between each layer and also between the bars or slabs of therespective series, so placed that any fine ore and coal sifting betweenthe bars of the upper layer will be caught upon those of the lower layerand the air supplied from beneath in a lateral direction, the same beinga representation of the fourth grate-bottom by me before described.

WVhat I claim as my invention and improvement, and desire to receive byLetters Patent, 1s-

The manufacture of white oxide of zinc from ores of zinc or franklin-iteby means of a furnace having perforated grate-bars and an air-chamberunderneath them, in which hot or cold blasts of air are forced to unitewith the ignited mess of fuel in a diffused state, by passing throughthe perforations of the grate-bars to liberate the zinc in the form ofvaper, in manner of construction and mode of operation substantially asset forth.

S. T. JONES.

In presence of- J. BANOROFT Srnvmvs, JOHN OBRIAN.

